Shoes

Bananatex and Balenciaga Develop Sneakers Made From Banana Fibers

Swiss fashion company QWSTION, producer of the sustainable banana fiber fabric Bananatex®, has announced a partnership with fashion house Balenciaga to launch sneakers made from the material.

The shoes are an eco-friendly version of Balenciaga’s much-loved Triple S sneakers, which have a characteristic chunky shape. They are now available at the fashion house’s physical and online stores in two colors — black and beige.

“This is big news! Balenciaga and Bananatex!” said Hannes Schoenegger, co-founder of QWSTION and Bananatex, on LinkedIn. “The iconic Triple S made with our 100% plant-based, next-gen fabric, available in two colors. Bravo to everyone involved in this project, we are looking forward to many more in the future!”

© Balenciaga

“Really exciting development”

Bananatex is a durable canvas fabric made from naturally grown Abacá banana plants cultivated in the Philippine highlands. The plants require no pesticides, fertilizer, or extra water, and can promote reforestation and biodiversity in areas eroded by palm plantations.

Developed after three years of research and development, Bananatex is plastic-free and fully biodegradable. The material provides a circular alternative to synthetic fabrics, and has won multiple sustainability and design awards.

Bananatex is one of three co-founders of the FIBRAL Material Alliance, a global network of farmers, fiber producers, and value chain partners working with underrepresented plant-based fibers. Last year, the material was certified by The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark.

“Bananatex is one of three brands who have registered fabrics with the Vegan Trademark this year. This is a really exciting development within the textiles industry and we hope registrations like Bananatex ultimately lead to more vegan products being released into the market, which will show just how accessible vegan fashion can be!” said Jodie Brown, certification officer for The Vegan Trademark, in 2023.

Bookmark
See all bookmarks

Share